the end of the season is right around the corner

Beaver Ponds trail near Mammoth Hot Springs.  We almost didn't get to hike this trail as there were elk at the start of the walk- a cow right on the path and two young bulls keeping a close watch on us.

While we have had snow already this month, the weather has turned warm again.  Cold mornings followed by warm, sunny days and breezy evenings.  I've been doing my best to appreciate all that fall has to offer here in the park - from chattering squirrels and chipmunks buzzing around everywhere to the bison moving into the Old Faithful area, making walking and biking a sometimes haphazard adventure.  The golds, browns, reds, oranges and yellows are all around, and the smell of campfire makes me think of Halloween rather than sleeping in a tent.  I do enjoy this time of year.  The in-between time where the memories of summer still linger and the numbers of tourists and employees dwindle.  Meals seem to endure longer than usual as people talk about their travel plans or winter contracts.  It's wind down time.  Lots of work left to do, but still it is wind down time.

grove of aspens on the Beaver Ponds trail

 

I hope there are a few more walks and drives in store for me before my time is up.  More wildlife viewing, more quiet time by rivers and streams, more conversations full of laughter and reminiscing.  And more photos to be taken.

Some books I brought and others I've acquired, glass balls Tim bought me in Vienna, and my new felted birdie - my friend Sheri has christened him Chuck.  I'm not sure he's a Chuck, but he sure is sweet.

Peaceful as a hurricane eye

I've got Paul Simon in my head.  Two weeks ago it was James Taylor - for days and days.  This morning it was Adele.  Sometimes it's Ray Charles or Van Morrison.  Other times it's Nina Simone or The Indigo Girls.  A lot of the time it's movie scores.  Music is important to me.  Listening in my car as loud as I can stand it is often the best form of stress relief, especially when I sing along (with the windows rolled up to spare passersby hearing my voice, mind you).  Having it as background music to my adventures or quiet times alone can make all the difference in my mood.  What would life be without it?  I hope never to learn the answer to that question.

On a different topic, Tim was just here in Yellowstone for a week.  Lots of laughter going on and lots of reminiscing too.  He's back on the east coast where it's quite warm whereas I've seen snow in the last twenty-four hours.  Oh, I do love the mountains!  

Here are some random photos from the last week or so.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.....

Well it hasn't snowed at Old Faithful yet....but it sure feels as though it could any day.  Cloudy skies, some rain, temps getting below freezing at night.  I'm no meteorologist, but I think we may see some of the white stuff before September is over.  

I like the cool weather and the damp evenings and the foggy ride to breakfast in the morning.  I like that the elk are beginning their rut.  I like that autumnal colors have been showing up gradually for some weeks now.  And I'm really looking  forward to the cottonwood and aspen leaves going from green to yellows and reds and browns.  Isn't fall a lovely time of year?  Makes me want to bake and go to Farr's in Ogden, Utah for pumpkin ice cream!  

Here are some photos from my last weekend.  Last light in the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, a view from the summit of Bunsen Peak near Mammoth Hot Springs, and the bottom of Gibbon Falls.  A lovely couple of days off indeed.

I've posted photos of this view before but not with this type of light. 

I love when the angle of the sun highlights the insects buzzing around.

Electric Peak, Sepulcher Mountain and Terrace Mountain below them.  It was a very, very windy day.  My friend Sheri and I had to brace ourselves against the gusts, but it sure was worth the view.

bottom cascades of Gibbon Falls